Symbolic Interactionism and Expectancy Violations Theory

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering terms, definitions, key theorists, and spatial measurements from the lecture notes on Symbolic Interactionism and Expectancy Violations Theory.

George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer

Sociologists listed as foundational figures in the background of Symbolic Interactionism.

Social Construction

The concept that our reality, including our sense of self, is created through communication.

Symbolic Interaction

Communication in anticipation of the response, which operates back and forth as a process.

Symbols

Arbitrary signs that are based on random choice.

Interaction

What individuals do to communicate.

Schemata

Mental "filing cabinets" that help to organize information and shape a person's interpretation of symbols.

Minding

An inner dialogue or "rehearsal" that involves paying close attention to another person's feelings and thoughts.

Looking-glass Self

The image of ourselves that we believe is seen by others, which shapes our performance in the world.

Goffman's Dramaturgy

A framework that views social interaction as a performance.

Facework

Which of your "faces" you present in any given context.

Generalized Other

The imagined audience, structured as a composite of experienced responses and known social norms.

The I

The aspect of the self that is spontaneous, novel, and unpredictable.

The me

The image reflected back from the reactions of others, resulting from the looking-glass self playing out in reality.

Self Formula

The conceptual combination given by $I + ME = SELF$.

Proxemics

The study of how humans use space (proximity).

Fixed-feature Space

Space defined by immobile objects.

Semi-fixed-feature Space

Space defined by mobile objects.

Informal Space

Space around one's body.

Intimate Distance

A spatial range of $0 - 1.5\text{ feet}$, associated with touching or whispering.

Personal Distance

A spatial range of $1.5 - 4\text{ feet}$, associated with interactions among friends.

Social Distance

A spatial range of $4\text{ to }12\text{ feet}$, noted in connection with COVID-19.

Public Distance

A spatial distance of $12\text{ feet}$, associated with public speakers and public speaking.

Threat Threshold

The imagined outer boundary representing the maximum amount of danger a human system can tolerate.

Arousal

A heightened physiological state of alertness.

Expectancy

A prediction, rather than a desire, based on social norms and schemata.

Orienting Response

A concept that replaced arousal in Burgoon's theory, which begins the interpretation process and directs attention to novelty in the environment.

Communicator Reward Valence (CRV)

An evaluation of whether further interaction has a net positive or net negative valence, based on attractiveness, liking, and reward power.

Violation Valence

The evaluation of an expectancy violation that, alongside CRV, determines a person's response.